Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 116, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1904 — Hard to Explain. [ARTICLE]

Hard to Explain.

A lawyer who appreciated a first* class joke on himself was at the Gals House last night Phil B. Nelson, ci Roanoke, Va., is his official title. “When a barrister of only a few months’ experience,” said he, “I had occasion to examine a negro witness. I was getting along fairly well until I asked the negro what was his occupa. tlon. " Tse a carpenter, sab,’ he said. “ ‘What kind of a carpenter?’ 1 asked. " ‘They call me a jack-leg carpen* ter, sah.’ “ ‘What is a jack-leg carpenter?’. “ ‘He is a carpenter who is not a fust-class carpenter, sah.’ “ ‘Well, explain fully what you understand a jack-leg carpenter to be,’ 1 Insisted. “ ‘Boss,’ said the witness, ‘I declare I dunno how to ’spin in any mo’, ’cept to say it am jes’ the same difference *twixt you and a fust-class lawyer.’ ”